Combined writing and cutting instrument



y 3, 1966 H. u. GRIESBACH 3,249,091

COMBINED WRITING AND CUTTING INSTRUMENT Filed June 15, 1964 United States Patent 3,249,091 COMBINED WRITING AND CUTTING INSTRUMENT Horace U. Griesbach, Manchester, N.H., assignor of onehalf to Michael H. Federmau, Brookline, Mass, onetenth to Product Promotions & Development Corporation, Boston, Mass, and four-tenths to George W. Gold, Brookline, Mass.

Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,055 4 Claims. (Cl. 120-1) This invention relates to a combined writing and cutting instrument.

One object of my invention is to provide an instrument that serves to write with and may also serve as a slitter to cut envelopes and the like open, using the main body as a holder in each use.

Another object is to provide such an instrument in which a blade is at an open end of and extends into the interior of the main body.

Still another object is to provide such a blade that is fixedly mounted in the interior of the main body, being wholly or mainly within the latter.

A further object is to so position the blade that it is spaced at opposite sides from the interior of the main body, hence the flap of the envelope may enter one space while the main body of the envelope enters the other space, with the blade between the body and flap in slitting position.

A still further object is to provide an instrument of the usual size equipped with said cutter, which is economical to manufacture and effective and speedy in use.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a combination and arrangement such as is disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing, nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of my combined writing and cutting instrument.

FIG. 2 is an outer or cutting end elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my combined writing and cutting instrument.

FIG. 4 is an outer or cutting end elevational view thereof.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an end view the same as FIG. 2; but greatly enlarged.

FIG. 8 is a perspective showing my instrument in position of use slitting open an envelope.

As illustrated, my combined writing instrument is shown as part of a well known ball point pen. It has an elongate body 10 including a writing point 12 at one end, continuing and extending into said body as an elongate supply tube 14 to hold ink or other material. A coil spring 16 extends around said tube at the lower portion, being held in position on said tube by a widened or stop portion 18 formed on the latter. A ferrule 20 forms one end of said body 10. A portion of the latter is exteriorly screw-threaded as at 22.

Said body 10 includes a hollow cap 24, as shown, having interior screw-threads 26 that are adapted to connect with said screw-threads 22. A guide 28 extends across the "ice interior of said cap 24 having a hole 30 therethrough into which said tube 14 extends. The usual attaching clip 32 is mounted on said cap 24 by a holder extending through the latter and attached thereto in any well known way. My instrument is shown with said separate cap 24 forming part of the body. However, the body may be a single unit, such as the usual pencil and hollowed out at one end.

At what is the outer or cutting end in position of use, said body has an opening 38 at the side of said body 10 that is preferably triangular in shape, tapering from the outer extremity inwardly for a short distance such as inch. A small, round portion 40 having a curved surface, such as a ball, is at the inner end of said opening 38 to prevent paper getting stuck or accumulating in the latter.

At the outer end extremity said cap has a side opening 42 that is preferably triangular, communicating with said opening 38 and tapering in width from the latter to a point spaced from the peripheral edge of said outer end.

A blade or cutter 44, which may be similar to a portion of a razor blade, the inner edge of which is sharp, extends into said opening 38. Its free or outer end preferably projects, as at 46, slightly beyond the side portions of said cap 24 latterly opposite it, and into said end opening 42. Said blade 44 is attached to said body adjacent the inner or terminating end of said opening 38 and it is spaced from opposite side portions of said body or cap as at 48 and 50.

In slitting or cutting open an envelope B, said blade 44 is inserted between the envelope flap F and the main body, as shown in said FIG. 8. The blades inner or sharpened edge is brought into contact with the crease found between the envelope flap and body, and pushed across the envelope, slitting it easily and rapidly. Said body 10 serves as a holder which is grasped by the fingers and thumb in the usual way.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 a modified form of my invention is shown, in which the parts are the same except that a cap 54, forming part of the body 10, and some other parts herein described, are different. A well known plunger 56 extends beyond one end of said tube 14. It has a collar 58 connected to the latter. Actuation of this plunger propels and repels said tube 14 and writing point 12 in the usual way.

Said cap 54 has a side mounting portion 60 that is a hollow protrusion or thickened portion, preferably integral, and that is off-center. It has a side opening 62, preferably triangular in shape, with a rounded surface member or ball 64, similar to said ball 40, at the narrow terminating end. Said side opening 62 communicates with an end opening 66 that is preferably triangular.

A blade or cutter 68, similar to blade 44, extends into said side opening 62. Its free or outer end preferably projects as at 70 slightly beyond the side portions defining said opening 62. This blade 68 is attached to said body similar to said blade 44 previously described, and there are spaces 72 and 74 at opposite sides thereof that serve as do said spaces 48 and 50.

What I claim is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising:

a cylindrically-shaped member having a pair of ends and a protruding side portion at one of the ends extending along a portion of the length of the cylinder;

said side portion having an elongate, isosceles, triangularly-shaped opening extending along the same portion of the length of the cylinder as the side portion;

the base dimension of the opening located at said one end of the cylinder and the apex of the opening terminating at a point on the surface along the length of the cylinder; and

cutter means wholly disposed within the opening extending from the base dimension to the apex of the opening.

2. The article of claim 1 v ihereinz References Cite? by the Examiner thirfililgelrarintelanznig a substantially fiat blade along its UNITED STATES PATENTS the blade hgving a sharpened edge along the edge dis- 17 9/1925 ONein 120 35 X posed within the opening; 5 1,629,775 5/ 1927 Collander 12()35 X 3. A combined Writing and cutting instrument as set FOREIGN PATENTS forth in claim 2, and a stop member attached to said body 964 539 2/1950 France at the inner end of said first opening.

4. A combined Writing and cutting instrument as set 936554 12/1955 Germany forth in claim 3, said stop member having a curved outer 10 LAWRENCE CHARLES primary Examiner surface at its outer end extremity. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING: A CYLINDRICALLY-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF ENDS AND A PROTRUDING SIDE PORTION AT ONE OF THE ENDS EXTENDING ALONG A PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE CYLINDER; SAID SIDE PORTION HAVING AN ELONGATE, ISOSCELES, TRIANGULARLY-SHAPED OPENING EXTENDING ALONG THE SAME PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE CYLINDER AS THE SIDE PORTION; THE BASE DIMENSION OF THE OPENING LOCATED AT SAID ONE END OF THE CYLINDER AND THE APEX OF THE OPENING TERMINATING AT A POINT ON THE SURFACE ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE CYLINDER; AND CUTTER MEANS WHOLLY DISPOSED WITHIN THE OPENING EXTENDING FROM THE BASE DIMENSION TO THE APEX OF THE OPENING. 